PIA Press Release2006/10/17

Puno says no political color to Binay suspension

Quezon City (17 October) -- DILG Secretary Ricardo Puno said there was no political color to the suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

He said it was not true that the administration was targeting opposition mayors. He cited the suspension of the mayors of Baguio, Sta. Rosa, and Lemery who were all pro-administration.

The Office of the President had asked Mayor Binay to reply to the charges as early as July. Puno said that the Office of the President had found the evidence of probable guilt significant.

The suspension was to prevent the Mayor from tampering with the evidence. The Secretary said that damage to the government from the payment of salaries to alleged ghost employees amounted to P113.1M from January 1 to December 31, 2005 alone.

Puno further said that DILG NCR Regional Director Rodolfo Ferraren was appointed as a caretaker and not as an acting mayor. (PIA) [top]